07/04/2024
This is a picture of me at age 3 on America's bicentennial in 1976. Aside from the crazy midriff-baring top, guess what else about the photo would make me cringe?
No eye protection!! 🥽⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Yes, we were wild and crazy in those days with no bike helmets and rash guards, but I hope you'd agree with me that there is a place for eye protection with respect to July 4th activities.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there were 9,700 emergency room visits in 2022 attributed to fireworks. Eye injuries accounted for 19% of those visits! The American Optometric Association recommends the following tips to protect and preserve eyesight during the Fourth of July holiday:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🎇Discuss fireworks safety with children and teens prior to the Fourth of July holiday.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🎇Do not allow kids to handle fireworks, and never leave them unsupervised near fireworks.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🎇Wear protective eyewear when lighting and handling fireworks of any kind.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🎇Store fireworks, matches and lighters in a secure place where children won't find them.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🎇Be aware of your surroundings and only light fireworks when family, friends and children are at a safe distance.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🎇Refrain from purchasing sparklers. Heating up to 2,000 degrees or hotter, sparklers are the No. 1 cause of firework injuries to children requiring trips to the emergency room. The CPSC reported that sparklers accounted for more than half of the total estimated injuries to children under age 5.
Yikes, who knew that sparklers could be so dangerous? The neighborhood fireworks show is looking more appealing after reading all of those statistics. Who’s with me?
Aside from all that, what do you think of my nifty pink and purple bike? I loved it, training wheels and all.
Source: https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Fireworks
